Maisch, Gottlob (1825-1908)

Gottlob Maisch, a German writer of historical and theological works. In his book Religion und Revolution (1892) he discusses Anabaptism. Maisch is one of the modern scholars who find the roots of Anabaptism in the peaceful Swiss Brethren. Not until the leaders had been wiped out by the cruel persecution were the radical elements able to win the upper hand as in Münster. But even in Münster he sees at first a good Protestant movement under Rothmann, until the radical elements won out and destroyed the work begun in a truly religious spirit. The book, to be sure, presents no new material on the Anabaptist movement, but Maisch gives it a positive evaluation.